Camera



Dec. 24, 1963 FREEMAN 3,115,078

CAMERA 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1960 1'! 1 [1'1 I I! l I l 2| 2A 25 I z 97 l I! as 17 ,l

Ll l l l II I] .ll 21;. J 25 so 14 a9 9 2-2 1 W K M INVENTOR. MAX FREEMAN ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 Filed July 12. 1960 M. FREEMAN 3,115,078

CAMERA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAX FREEMAN ATTOP/VEV t States l atent U rites .luly 12, this, Ser- No. time 2 cases. or. 95--ll) This invention relates to the photographic art and particularly concerns an improved camera.

According to the invention there is provided a camera of simplified structure formed of plastic material with a simplified shutter. The camera is especially adapted for being fabricated at low cost. Due to its simplified structure it can be used by children and others lnexpert in handling more elaborate photographic equipment.

it is therefore one object to provide a two-part camera case having a simplified lens holder and shutter assembly secured thereto.

A further object is to provide a camera having a twpart plastic case adapted to be opened on hinges for inserting and removing film.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

"in the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

lnLG. l is a front elevational view of the camera.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the camera.

. 3 is a rear elevational view of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the camera.

HS. 5 is a rear elcvational view of the camera with case in open position.

8. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-t3 of MG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of film guiding and framig nember employed in the case.

i 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the with lens holder removed to show the shutter assenbiy.

PEG. 9 is a rear view of the lens holder per se.

PEG. 10 is a perspective view of the lens holder showing the rear thereof.

PEG. ii is an exploded perspective view of components of the lens holder.

PG. 12 is a perspective view of the shutter employed e camera.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a camera llll having a case formed of interfitting rectangular front and rear sections l2, The front section is formed with a forwardly extending tapered barrel it best shown in lGS l, 2, 4 and 6. At one end 13 of the front section is a .ge member l3 integrally formed thereon and havstuds 2t) which fit in books 21 formed at one end 22 ot the rear section A projection at the other end of front section l2, has an opening 25 in which engages a flexible catch element 26 integrally formed on the other end it? of rear section ll l; see H68. 1, 3 and S.

A rectangular viewing frame member 222 is integrally formed with the front section at top 19 thereof. This frame interfits with a rear viewing frame member 3t? formed at the top 23 of rear section lid. The frame member 34) has a tapered passage 42 terminating in a small rectangular hole i l through which the user sights the object ahead for photographing.

The lens mount includes a circular cap 46 having a skirt which seats on a shoulder 49 formed in the front end of barrel to; see FIG. 6. lntegrally formed with the rear side of cap are a pair of studs 52 having hooks formed thereon for engaging in holes 54 of a web 55 located near the front of the barrel 16; see FIGS. 8, 9

Mlhllld and 10. The cap as has a recess 56 formed in its front side in which fits a lens see FIGS. 6 and 11. The cap has a central hole 5'7. The lens is held in the recess by a flanged disk till. Disk 6% has flange oil fitting snugly into a recess 62 formed in the front side of cap A metal ring 63 is provided with peripheral tabs 64. These tabs fit into and through holes 65 in the cap 46 and are bent over behind the cap. Skirt 4% has a cutout 35 and a radial projection 43 with hole 43 A shutter compartment as is defined between the rear side of cap 46 and the front side of web On web is formed a curved partition 67 which serves as an abutment for shutter in its upper and lower positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8. The shutter is disposed in compartment as. it has a nipple at its rear end (see FIG. 1 which fits into a hole in web 55. T he shutter rotates on this nipple. The shutter is a flat generally U-shaped member with two outer rounded corners 7ft, M

A bent over central portion 71 is formed with a tip 72. which engages in one end of a coil spring 3. The spring is engaged on a stud 7d at one end of shutter operating lever '75. The lever pivots on a stud '77. The spring is stressed so that when the lever is pivoted counterclockwise on stud 7'7, as vi wed in MG. 3, shutter es snaps up to its uppermost position with lower corner 7d covering opening in web 55. When the lever is pivoted clockwise, shutter 58 snaps down and corner ill covers opening 53. During movement of the shutter opening 53 is cleared at central portion Fl. -Lever 35 has a knob 76 at its outer end operable by the finger of the user while he is sighting through frame members 28 and Tail. The lever moves in recess formed in skirt of cap A film guide and picture framing member St? is disposed inside the camera on the rear of front section l2. This generally rectangular member till as best shown in H68. 5, 6 and 7, is formed with a pair of curved flanges '79, 82. at top and bottom. These flanges fit frictionally into curved recesses 83 formed in the rear wall 34 of section 12. The member St) has further end flanges 86, 86 which abut the rear wall fi l. The member 8% is recangular in cross section for framing film =F indicated by dotted lines in N68. 5 and 6. The film will be threaded over the rear open end of member Eli between spools 31 and 85.

The empty spool (51 taking up the film is rotatably mounted near the outer or free end 15 of the front section. The shaft 38 of the spool is engaged by a stud 89 rotatably journaled at the top of section 12 and rotated by knob 96 Spring elements 91 secured to the underside of the knob are drawn over recesses 92. with inclined walls in the top l9 of the front section in ratchet fashion so that the spool 81 can be turned in only one direction; see FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Bosses 93 and d4 inside the front section 12 at the hinged end 13 receive ends of the spool 35 loaded with film F. The film is drawn oil of spool on to spool bit past the rear end of walls 87 of frame member Sit be tween the frame member and pairs of projections 95 molded on the inside of rear wall 96 of the rear section 14.

A pair of apertures 97 are formed in the wall 96 for viewing the back of the film. Colored transparent plastic window elements 9% are fitted in apertures 9'7.

Stud 77 projects forwardly beyond lever '75 and fits in hole 43* in the cap 46.

A rectangular channel 99 is formed in the end, top and bottom walls 13, 15, 19, 311 of section 12. The free ends ltill of the end, top and bottom walls of rear section 14- fit into channel 59 to provide a joint which effectively excludes light from the interior of the camera.

When the camera is in use with film F threaded over the rear end of frame member 80, shutter as will close opening 53 in web 55. The user Will sight through the viewing frame members 28, 30 and when ready, he will move knob 7tup or down to snap the shutter past opening 53, uncovering the opening just long enough to permit the film to be properly exposed.

The film will be wound by turning knob 91% while the user observes the movement of the film through windows 98 in the back of the camera. After the film is entirely exposed and wound on spool 31, the catch 26 will be disengaged from opening 25 in projection 24- to free the hinged sections. The sections can then be opened to the position of FIG. for removing the film and replacing it with a fresh roll. Empty spool 35 will then be tran ferred to the position of spool 81 while a new roll of film is disposed in place of spool 85.

The camera is characterized by its simplicity of construction and assembly. All essential components of the case and lens holder are formed of plastic parts which can be formed by well known molding methods at low cost.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that i do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

laving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A camera comprising a case including two hollow rectangular sections, one of said sections having a groove formed in ends of its sides, the other of said sections having free ends of its sides fitting into said groove to provide a lightproof joint, hinge means integrally formed with outer portions of said sections connecting the sections in a hinged joint, catch means integrally formed with other outer portions of the sections for securing the sections together and holding the case closed, a barrel formed on a wall of one of the sections, a cap providing a lens mounting secured on a free end of the barrel, said barrel having an apertured web formed near said free end, and a shutter assembly mounted on the barrel, said assembly comprising a generally U-shaped shutter having rounded ends for covering the aperture in said web, spring means for moving the shutter with a snap action, and a lever pivotally mounted on said web and connected with the spring means for operating the shutter to instantaneously uncover said aperture, said Web and cap defining a compartment, said shutter assembly being disposed in said compartment, said web being formed with a curved partition serving as a stop member for said shutter at a opposite ends of its path of movement by said spring means, said cap having a recess therein, a lens disposed in said recess, a flanged apertured disk holding the lens in said recess, and a ring disposed over the disk, said ring having tabs extending through holes in said cap holding the disk and lens on the cap, and a rectangular film guide and picture frame member removably disposed in the case, said member having curved lateral projections fitting in recesses in a wall of said one section at an inner end of said barrel, the other of said sections having a wall formed with projections for coaetion with said memher to define a passage for film in said case.

2. A camera comprising a case including two hollow rectangular sections, one of said sections having a groove formed in ends of its sides, the other of said sections having free ends of its sides fitting into said groove to provide a lightproof joint, hinge means integrally formed with outer portions of said sections connecting the sections in a hinged joint, catch means integrally formed with other outer portions of the sections for securing the sections together and holding the case closed, a barrel formed on a wall of one of the sections, a cap providing a lens mounting secured on a free end of the barrel, said barrel having an apertured web formed near said free end, and a shutter assembly mounted on the barrel, said assembly comprising a generally U-shaped shutter having rounded ends for covering the aperture in said Web, spring means for moving the shutter with a snap action, and a lever pivotally mounted on said web and connected with the spring means for operating the shutter to instantaneously uncover said aperture, said cap having a recess therein, a lens disposed in said recess, a flanged apertured disk holding the lens in said recess, and a ring disposed over the disk, said ring having tabs extending through holes in said cap holding the disk and lens on the cap, and a rectangular film guide and picture frame member removably disposed in the case, said member having curved projections fitting in recesses in a wall of said one section at an inner end of said barrel, the other of said sections having a wall formed with projections for coaction with said member to define a passage for film in said case.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CAMERA COMPRISING A CASE INCLUDING TWO HOLLOW RECTANGULAR SECTIONS, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A GROOVE FORMED IN ENDS OF ITS SIDES, THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING FREE ENDS OF ITS SIDES FITTING INTO SAID GROOVE TO PROVIDE A LIGHTPROOF JOINT, HINGE MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH OUTER PORTIONS OF SAID SECTIONS CONNECTING THE SECTIONS IN A HINGED JOINT, CATCH MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH OTHER OUTER PORTIONS OF THE SECTIONS FOR SECURING THE SECTIONS TOGETHER AND HOLDING THE CASE CLOSED, A BARREL FORMED ON A WALL OF ONE OF THE SECTIONS, A CAP PROVIDING A LENS MOUNTING SECURED ON A FREE END OF THE BARREL, SAID BARREL HAVING AN APERTURED WEB FORMED NEAR SAID FREE END, AND A SHUTTER ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE BARREL, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED SHUTTER HAVING ROUNDED ENDS FOR COVERING THE APERTURE IN SAID WEB, SPRING MEANS FOR MOVING THE SHUTTER WITH A SNAP ACTION, AND A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID WEB AND CONNECTED WITH THE SPRING MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SHUTTER TO INSTANTANEOUSLY UNCOVER SAID APERTURE, SAID WEB AND CAP DEFINING A COMPARTMENT, SAID SHUTTER ASSEMBLY BEING DISPOSED IN SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID WEB BEING FORMED WITH A CURVED PARTITION SERVING AS A STOP MEMBER FOR SAID SHUTTER AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF ITS PATH OF MOVEMENT BY SAID SPRING MEANS, SAID CAP HAVING A RECESS THEREIN, A LENS DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS, A FLANGED APERTURED DISK HOLDING THE LENS IN SAID RECESS, AND A RING DISPOSED OVER THE DISK, SAID RING HAVING TABS EXTENDING THROUGH HOLES IN SAID CAP HOLDING THE DISK AND LENS ON THE CAP, AND A RECTANGULAR FILM GUIDE AND PICTURE FRAME MEMBER REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN THE CASE, SAID MEMBER HAVING CURVED LATERAL PROJECTIONS FITTING IN RECESSES IN A WALL OF SAID ONE SECTION AT AN INNER END OF SAID BARREL, THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A WALL FORMED WITH PROJECTIONS FOR COACTION WITH SAID MEMBER TO DEFINE A PASSAGE FOR FILM IN SAID CASE. 